Bishop’s Stortford suffered a seven-wicket defeat in their opening Saracens Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League, Premier Division game of the season at Flitwick.

They lost the toss and were dismissed for 94 after being asked to bat first in the 50-over contest.

The visitors were in all sorts of trouble on 15-5 before Joe Burslem and Will Dommett, who both made 11, gave them some respite with a 28-run partnership.

There was also a 34-run eighth-wicket stand between Max Sanderson (25) and Dom Clutterbuck (13no), but the away side were removed in just the 27th over.

Stortford needed a good start with the ball and they got exactly that as Sam Davis bowled overseas batsman Blake Nikitaras in the first over.

Ali Hancock had Nabil Moughal caught behind in the second over and the same fate befell Hamd Waheed at the hands of Davis in the third over to leave Flitwick 8-3.

But that was the end of the wickets as Jake Tarling carried his bat for 48 and George Thurstance was unbeaten on 39 to guide the hosts to 97-3 in the 17th over.

The side were also beaten by 20 runs when they visited Brentwood in the ECB National Club Championship the following day.

Some fine bowling, in particular from Clutterbuck (1-16 off eight overs), helped to limit their strong opponents to 176-9 from their 40 overs.

Jack Hebron was out on the last ball of the innings for 60 while Eddie Ballard got 39 after the hosts won the toss.

Other wickets were taken by Davis (4-22), Simon Lindop (2-42) and Austin Osborne (1-43).

Stortford began the reply well and were well ahead of the run rate when Billy Mead was dismissed for an excellent 45 with the score on 81-2.

But opener Dommett (37) watched wickets fall around him until he was dismissed himself in the 30th over with three wickets remaining and 53 runs required.

Clutterbuck (12) and Osborne (18) gave it a go, but Stortford were all out for 156 with five balls left.

The second team also made a losing start to their Division 2B campaign as they suffered a six-wicket home defeat to their Flitwick counterparts.

Tommy Burslem (27) anchored the innings and Callum Sykes scored 21 before being out LBW as the hosts, who lost the toss, were removed for 110 in 42 overs.

Sykes bowled one of the Flitwick openers in the fourth over before Scott Hunt took two wickets in quick succession to leave the visitors 55-3.

But only one more wicket fell as the visitors successfully reached 111-4 in the 26th over.